About

Lori Streich

Rowan Associates’ Principal Consultant is Lori Streich.
I have been working as an independent consultant since 1996 and as Director of Rowan Associates since 2002. My practice builds on considerable experience of work in the social purpose sector, delivering and managing services and partnerships, and acting as a Trustee or partnership member. I work with organisations to support the development of effective practice and to enable them to evidence this.

Evaluation and research
My research has a focus on describing good practice and analysing the factors which make up good practice. I have a track record in producing clear and accessible reports.

Understanding the funder perspective
As a Non-Executive Director of SUEZ Communities Trust, I understand the needs of funders as well as provider organisations. SUEZ Communities Trust is an ethical funding organisation that operates under the Landfill Communities Fund distributing funds contributed by the recycling and resource management company SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK.

Engaging facilitation
I am an experienced facilitator and mediator. I work with organisations and their stakeholders, and with strategic partnerships, to ensure the effective engagement of the appropriate people in the issues that matter to them.

Putting it into practice

My consultancy work is supported by a wealth of hands on experience of organisations, as a Board member, volunteer or community participator. For example…

Carriageworks Action Group
I have chaired the Carriageworks Action Group (CAG) since 2011. CAG is a broad alliance of residents, business owners and organisations working together with Bristol City Council to find a regeneration solution for the long derelict Westmoreland House/Carriageworks site in Stokes Croft. This has been empty since 1982, is privately owned, and the cause of significant urban blight. The Carriageworks building is on the Heritage at Risk Register.

Arnos Vale Cemetery TrustArnos Vale Cemetery is 45 acres of astonishing social history, art and wildlife located in the centre of Bristol. After decades of neglect, it was restored and developed through a partnership between the Trust and Bristol City Council, with financial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and many others. After a chance visit to Arnos Vale in 2006, I joined the Board of Trustees. I chaired the Board from 2009-2013, during which time the cemetery was transformed from near dereliction into a place of remembrance, a hub for Bristol’s social history and an education centre. It continues to thrive as a focus for visitors, for volunteering and as a social enterprise. It is also a highly regarded exemplar for other historic cemeteries. After 9 years, I resigned from the Board and was asked to join the Advisory Group of the Future Cemetery project, which explores the many functions of historic cemeteries, and how to ensure their sustainability.

Neighbourhood Action
I was a volunteer member of the Editorial Board of Mina Matters: the newspaper for the St Werburghs Community from 2004 – 2007. I won Bristol Community Newsletter Awards in 2006 and 2007 – both for feature articles.